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The Inca Trail needs permits booked 5-6 months out and costs nearly double; Salkantay has no permit lottery, can be booked last-minute, and trades Inca stonework for a higher, wilder pass under a 6,271m glaciated peak before dropping into cloud forest to reach Machu Picchu on foot.
On the trail now and the next 7 days
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Salkantay Trek, planned for you
Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Salkantay Trek: the trek
- TravelBase: Cusco, ~3 hr drive to Mollepata/Soraypampa trailhead
- PermitPermits and entry
- On the trailHard trek to 4,650 m₹33,000
₹49 once, 4 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
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The route
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On the map
Salkantay · Open in Google Maps ↗
The climb
How to reach the start
Tour vans leave Cusco around 4am and drive roughly 3 hours via Limatambo to Mollepata or Soraypampa, where the trek begins on foot up the Humantay valley toward the pass.
Step 3 of 6Next: Permits↓Permits and rules
Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.
Step 4 of 6Next: Gear↓What to carry
Altitude safety
Salkantay reaches 4,650 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Climb slowly, drink water, and tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness. If symptoms get worse, go down: descent is the treatment. Take travel insurance that covers trekking at this altitude and rescue.
What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Cusco is extra.
Photos
Questions people ask
How hard is the Salkantay trek?
Hard grade. It takes 5 days and climbs to about 4,650 m. The Inca Trail needs permits booked 5-6 months out and costs nearly double; Salkantay has no permit lottery, can be booked last-minute, and trades Inca stonework for a higher, wilder pass under a 6,271m glaciated peak before dropping into cloud forest to reach Machu Picchu on foot.
Do I need a permit for Salkantay?
No government trekking permit or daily cap, unlike the Inca Trail — just a Machu Picchu entrance ticket (and return train/bus from Aguas Calientes), so it can be booked close to travel dates; check current Machu Picchu ticket rules as these change.
How do I reach the Salkantay trek?
Tour vans leave Cusco around 4am and drive roughly 3 hours via Limatambo to Mollepata or Soraypampa, where the trek begins on foot up the Humantay valley toward the pass. Base: Cusco, ~3 hr drive to Mollepata/Soraypampa trailhead.
What is the best season for Salkantay?
Apr–Oct (dry season).
How much does the Salkantay trek cost?
From about ₹33,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.
What should I carry?
Warm layers for sub-zero nights near the pass, waterproof jacket and broken-in boots; sleeping bags and trekking poles rent cheaply in Cusco.
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ArequipaA white volcanic-stone city under a perfect 5,800 m cone, three hours from a canyon where…From ₹2,100/day
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CuencaBlue-tiled cathedral domes, four rivers and a UNESCO old town at 2,500 m, with páramo lakes…From ₹2,200/dayCosts are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Salkantay Trek McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Steve FUNG · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Apollo · CC BY 2.0 · source
